Center Introduction

Mr. Wang Yung-ching, founder of the renowned Taiwanese conglomerate Formosa Plastics Group, established the company in 1963. Recognizing that Taiwan’s industrial development was still in its early stages, he emphasized the importance of cultivating technical talent equipped with modern knowledge and skills to support sustainable, long-term growth.

In response to the government’s call to establish private educational institutions and to fulfill corporate social responsibility, Mr. Wang founded Ming Chi Technical College. Owing to its outstanding academic performance and its strong alignment with Taiwan’s industrial development and talent demands, the college was approved for reorganization as Ming Chi University of Technology in 1999 and was consecutively recognized as an “Excellence College” by the Ministry of Education for six years.

Ming Chi University of Technology maintains a close partnership with the Formosa Plastics Group. To further realize Mr. Wang Yung-ching’s vision, Formosa Plastics Transport Corporation and Ming Chi University of Technology jointly established the Intelligent Vehicle R&D Center (hereinafter referred to as the “Center”).

The Center comprises approximately 40 members, including faculty, consultants, engineers, technicians, interns, and industry partners. The team possesses extensive expertise in full vehicle development and is supported by advanced laboratories and comprehensive hardware and software facilities.

Established in November 2021, the Center is dedicated to developing R&D, design, and testing capabilities for smart electric commercial vehicles and their key subsystems. Its vision is to become an internationally recognized vehicle R&D and testing hub, serving as a critical technical platform for innovation in Taiwan’s automotive industry.

The Center focuses on product technology development, testing and validation services, international collaboration, and sustainable innovation. By integrating industrial advancement with societal needs, it actively promotes the development and application of smart electric vehicles and intelligent disaster relief vehicles.

Center Highlights

1.　Industry-Oriented R&D and Testing/Validation Platform

The Center is industry-oriented, providing technical support and testing/validation services to the automotive industry from the early stages of R&D through to pre-mass production. It has established comprehensive capabilities for the development of electric vehicles and automotive battery technologies to accelerate product innovation and industrial upgrading.

Key features include:

* Establishing testing and validation capabilities for electric vehicles, automotive batteries, and smart systems
* Providing comprehensive product lifecycle management and validation processes
* Setting up various vehicle and “three-electric” system testing facilities and laboratories
* Assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in accessing advanced analytical design and testing resources
The Center maintains a neutral and professional stance; it does not directly develop products that compete with clients, focusing instead on technological innovation and application while avoiding low-price competition in the market.

--

2.　Comprehensive Capability to Integrate Key Technologies for Smart Electric Vehicles

The Center has established comprehensive R&D capabilities for core technologies of smart electric vehicles, including:

* Motor and drive control systems
* Automotive battery packs and battery management systems
* Thermal management systems
* Vehicle control units and powertrain systems
* Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and cloud management platforms
* AI image recognition and vehicle status analysis technologies
It has also completed the development of a 2.5-ton smart electric commercial vehicle prototype, establishing domestic manufacturing and supply chain integration capabilities.

--

3.　Advanced Testing and Simulation Capabilities

The center has established a range of world-class engineering analysis and testing facilities, including:

* Chassis dynamometers and axle dynamometer testing equipment
* Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing systems
* Vibration and environmental testing laboratories
* Battery charging and discharging testing laboratories
* Multi-physics and control system simulation and analysis platforms
It has also implemented ISO standards for functional safety, cybersecurity, and quality management, pursued international certifications, and enhanced its product testing and validation capabilities.

--

4.　Sustainability and Social Responsibility

The Center integrates the SDGs and ESG principles, prioritizing the development of smart disaster relief vehicles as a core focus. By leveraging remote control, drone, and smart sensing technologies, the Center aims to reduce risks to rescue personnel and enhance public safety.

Research areas include:

* Remotely operated firefighting vehicles
* Amphibious vehicles
* Drone-assisted disaster relief systems
* Disaster simulation and fire scene research
This initiative combines social benefits with niche market value.

--

5.　Industry-Academia-Research Collaboration and International Partnerships

The Center has established collaborative relationships with numerous companies and research institutions and actively promotes international cooperation (such as with Tohoku University in Japan) to facilitate technological exchange and industrial applications.

Collaboration models include:

* Industry-academia R&D
* Technology transfer and testing services
* International joint R&D
* Supply chain integration